Tone Deaf and All Thumbs

Convinced that everyone has an inborn ability to make music (a ""biological guarantee of musicianship''), California neurologist Wilson, who came late to piano playing, here presents a picture of the brain and muscular system to help nonmusicians to understand that the human body is a ``natural learner.'' He describes, in admirably untechnical language, the biology of rhythm and tempo, how we hear and see, the intricacies of musical notation; he tells what it's like to perform in public. Drawing comparisons between music-making and athletic skills, Wilson also tries to clarify such mysteries as tone deafness, perfect ptich, sight reading, memorization and ``pumping ivory.'' (April)